Cellulose derivative composition



Patented Dec. 31, 1935 UNITED STATES OFFICE CELLULOSE DERIVATIVE COMPOSITION George Schneider, Montclair, N. 3., assignor to ()elanese Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Application May 19, 1933, SerialNo. 671,825

2 Claims. (Cl. 106-40) This invention relates to the preparation of or potassium. The naphthenates embraced compositions containing derivatives of cellulose within this invention are the salts of the acid and relates more particularly to the preparation represented by the structural formula of organic derivative of cellulose compositions H 5 of increased stability. 5

An object of my invention is to prepare compositions containing derivatives of cellulose H HCOOH which are of increased stability by incorporating therein metallic salts of naphthenic acids as stabilizers. Other objects of this invention will H 10 appear from the following detailed description.

Often compositions made of cellulose acetate wherein one or more of the hydrogen atoms of or other organic derivatives of cellulose do not the nucleus may be replaced by ethyl, methyl, have as high a stability against the action of heat propyl or other alkyl group, or phenyl or other or other destructive agencies as is desired. Thus aryl group. The salts of a mixture of two or when compositions are exposed to relatively high more of such naphthenic acids may be employed. temperatures for substantial periods of time, For making the composition containing the such for instance as in the pressing of sheets or naphthenate,there may be employed any suitable slabs at elevated temperatures to form blocks, derivative of cellulose, such as cellulose nitrate, changes of color are liable to occur. These but I prefer to employ organic derivatives of celchanges of color may be in the form of local spots lulose, such as organic esters of cellulose or celluof lighter color, due to small amounts of acids lose ethers. Examples of organic esters of celluthat may occur or develop during the heating. lose are cellulose acetate, cellulose formate, cellu- Again when uncolored or delicately colored stock lose propionate and cellulose butyrate, while exis block-pressed at elevated temperatures, relaamples of cellulose ethers are ethyl cellulose, 25

tively deep discoloration occurs at the periphery methyl cellulose and benzyl cellulose. of the resulting block, the degree of discoloration Plastic compositions containing the derivative gradually diminishing towards the centre. of cellulose and the naphthenates as stabilizer I have found that if relatively small amounts may be made in any suitable manner and they of metallic salts of naphthenic acids are incormay be worked up into sheets, rods, tubes, blocks 30 porated in derivative of cellulose plastics, the or any other desired shape. Molding powder change of color due to heating above described containing the naphthenates, a derivative of celis largely or entirely avoided. Moreover articles, lulose and a suitable plasticizer in intimate assocoatings and the like made of derivatives of celluciation but containing little or no solvent maybe lose plastics containing such naphthenates have made, and these powders may be molded under 35 great stability and long life. Furthermore, conheat and pressure to any desired shape. Filatrary to the eiTect of the addition of most of the ments, yarns and other textile materials may be stabilizers heretofore proposed, the presence of made from solutions containing the organic desmall quantities of metallic naphthenates does rivatives of cellulose and the naphthenates by ex- 40 not decrease the clarity or increase the haze of trusion through orifices into an evaporative at- 40 cellulose derivative compositions containing mosphere, as in dry spinning, or into a precipithem, and these naphthenates do not impart any tating bath as in wet spinning. color to the compositions upon heating. Solutions of the organic derivative of cellulose In accordance with my invention I prepare in a volatile solvent containing the naphthenates compositions containing derivatives of cellulose may be cast or extruded onto a smooth surface 45 and metallic salts of naphthenic acids as stabiand the volatile solvent permitted to evaporate lizers. to form films that may be used for photographic Any suitable metallic salt of naphthenic acids or other purposes. Another application of this may be employed such as the naphthenates of invention is in the preparation of laminated glass calcium, magnesium, barium, strontium, sodium wherein a plastic sheet containing the derivative 50 of cellulose and the naphthenates is interposed between sheets of glass. Coating compositions such as lacquers may be formed containing the naphthenate and the derivative of cellulose dissolved in appropriate solvent mixtures, and resins, either synthetic or natural, compatible with the derivative of cellulose may be added thereto.

The proportion of the naphthenates to the derivative of cellulose may be varied in accordance with the particular requirements. Generally I have found that in the case of its use with cellulose acetate, naphthenates may be employed in relatively small amounts say from 0.01 to 0.3% of the weight of the cellulose acetate.

In making the compositions in accordance with my invention, there may be incorporated any desired plasticizers such as triphenyl phosphate, triacetin, dibenzyl tartrate, diethyl tartrate, dibutyl tartrate, diethyl phthalate, ethyl toluene sulfonamide.

In making these compositions, solvents of appropriate nature, such as acetone, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, ethylene formal, ethyl lactate, formalglycerol, diacetone alcohol, of varying boil-- ing points may be used to suit the particular requirements. Effect materials such as pigments, filling materials or dyes may be added to produce any desired efiect.

In order further to illustrate my invention, but without being limited thereto, the following specific example is given.

Example The following ingredients are kneaded to gether at elevated temperature in a suitable mixing apparatus:

Parts by weight Cellulose acetate Ethyl paratoluene sulfonamide 25 Triphenyl phosphate 12.5 Dimethyl 'phthalate 2.5 Calcium naphthenate"; 0.05

together with the required amount of volatile solvent, which solvent may be made by mixing 3 parts of acetone with 1 part of ethyl acetate and one part of ethyl alcohol. Pigments, dyes or lakes may be incorporated to impart the desired color. 5

The resulting dough-like mass is then worked up in the ordinary manner between heated malaxating rolls to form sheets or slabs which are then stacked and pressed under elevated temperatures to form a block, which may then be 10 sheeted or worked up into any desired form.

If a cellulose acetate which normally causes acid spotting is employed, the product Iormed is entirely free of such spots. Moreover when no coloring material is employed or a delicately colored product is made, the resulting articles are entirely free of the discoloration caused by the heat of block-pressing cellulose acetate compositions that do not contain the naphthenate. Moreover the product is free of discolorations that 20 are caused by the use of stabilizers previously proposed, and its clarity is not impaired by the presence of the naphthenate.

It is to be understood that the foregoing detailed description is given merely by way of illus- 25 tration and many variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit oi. my invention.

Having described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 30 1. A plastic composition containing cellulose acetate and a metallic salt of a naphthenic acid in amounts of 0.01 to 0.3% of the weight of the cellulose acetate present, which composition is substantially resistant to discoloration by the 35 action of heat.

2. A plastic composition containing cellulose acetate and calcium naphthenate in amounts of 0.01 to 0.3% of the cellulose acetate present, which composition is substantially resistant to discolor- 40 ation by the action of heat.

GEORGE SCHNEIDER. 

